Typewriter keyboard



April 1, 1952 R. L. SMITH TYPEWRITER KEYBOARD 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1, 1951 INVENTOR April 1952 R. L. SMITH 2,591,310

TYPEWRITER KEYBOARD Filed May 1, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 5.

I i I i f wi@ 20 20 T" 0: W Ail 4 3 i i a i E E i i mi" H A l6 l5 l6 /5 m INVENTOR PatentedApr. l, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TYPEWRITER, KEYBOARD Raymond L. Smith, Arlington, Va.

Application May 1, 1951, SeriaLNo. 228,973

The present invention relates to a typewriter keyboard and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

The present invention is a continuation-inpart ofthe invention disclosed in my prior application, Serial No. 85,768, filed April 6, 1949, now Patent No. 2,587,778, dated March 4, 1952. In the said prior application, a prime object of the invention is to provide a keyboard of the character mentioned wherein the key heads are so constructed and arranged that they may be depressed to operate the key levers without liability of the fingers of the operator sliding or slipping under the adjacent key heads, either forwardly or laterally and on or against adjacent key levers, thus attaining manifest advantages such as minimizing the danger of injury to such fingers, depression of the wrong key or simultaneous depression of a plurality of keys and piling of the type.

An additional object of the invention disclosed in said prior application is to provide means whereby the key heads of the second row are prevented from being moved or sprung laterally when depressed and striking the upper edge of adjacent key levers of the first row.

A prime object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard of the character mentioned wherein the key levers of the first row are prevented from being moved or sprung laterally when depressed and, upon their upward or return movement, catching beneath adjacent key heads in the second row.

This object is accomplished by extending the vertical width of the key levers of the first row upwardly between the key heads of the second row a distance at least greater than the permissible extent of the depression stroke of the key levers at that point.

By reason of my invention, the key levers oi the first row are prevented from falling below adjacent key heads of the second row and are incapable of being moved or sprung laterally to a position beneath such heads.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a keyboard constructed in accordance with the present invenion. taken along line l--l of Figure and showing key heads and adjacent portions of key levers carrying the same, with a key head and its lever in the third row of keys shown in a depressed position,

6 Claims. (Cl. 197-98) Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l but showing a key head and its lever in the fourth row of keys in a depressed position;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken alongline 3-3 of Figure 5 and showing a key head, and its lever in the first row of keys in depressed position,

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 but showing a key head and its lever in the second row of keys in a depressed position,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of a keyboard constructed in accordance:- with the teaching of the present invention, and

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional viewv taken along line 6--5 of Figure 5. 1

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein key levers I5, "5, l1 and H! which carry key heads I9, 20, 2] and 22 in the first, second, third and fourth transversely extending rows of keys, respectively.

It will be observed that the key heads I9, 20, 2| and 22 are cylinders of the same external diameter throughout their lengths, and that their longitudinal axes normally extend in avertical direction and are so vertically elongated and in such proximity to each other that the fingers of the operator cannot normally enter any space between the key heads. but rather will. be guided by adjacent key heads as they engage and de press a key and that the operators fingers cannot slide 01f a key head either forwardly or laterally to thereby enter beneath a key head.

The above relates to structure and advantages which are common both to the prior application referred to above and to this application. For

further advantages and details of this common structure, attention is directed to the prior application mentioned above.

As to the invention set forth in this application, it will be noted that the key levers l5 operate in the narrow spaces between the key heads 29 and, upon full depression of a key head l9, key lever l5 normally could be moved or sprun laterally so that its upper edge would catch beneath a key head 20 upon its upward travel to thus prevent the normal return of the key head It.

To avoid this, the applicant provides upwardly extending projections 23 on the key levers l5. As can be seen, for example in Figure 3 of the drawings. the length of the projection 23' plus the vertical width of the lever l5 immediately therebelow is greater the distance of the depression stro e of the key lever l5 atthis point. Thus. when key heads l9 are fully depressed. any lateral movement of. these heads would be restricted by projections 23 striking against the side walls of the key heads 20, thereby eliminating the possibility of key levers l5 falling below key heads 2!! and catching beneath such heads upon their upward or return travel. It will also be noted by an examination of Figure 4 of the drawings that when the key heads 20 are in depressed position, their upper ends or striking'surfaces are in a higher horizontal plane than the upper ends of projections 23 when in normal position, thus avoiding any interference with the striking of the key heads 20 by the op erator. 7

What has been said with regard to the first row of keys I9 and their levers i5 is likewise true of the third row of keys 2| and their levers l1.-

1. A keyboard for typewriting machines having four transverse rows of key heads, the upper or striking surfaces of the heads in. each of the rows behind the first row extending at progressive elevations, one of the heads of the third row and two adjacent heads of the second row each having a wall depending into the keyboard a distance at least equal to the distance between the normal striking surfaces of the heads in adjacent transverse rows plus a distance at least equal to the depression stroke of the key, and a key lever on which each headis mounted, one of the levers of the first row and an adjacent lever of the second row each having a substantially U- shaped key clearance portion, and at least a portionof the base of the said head of the third t .four transverse rows of key heads, the upper or striking surfaces of the heads in each of the rows behind the first row extending at progressive elevations, one of the heads of the third row and two adjacent heads of the second row each having a wall depending into the keyboard a distance at least equal to the distance between the normal striking surfaces of the heads in adjacent transverse rows plus a distance at least equal to the depression stroke of the key, and a'key lever on which each head is mounted; one ofthe levers of the first row and an adjacent lever of the second row each having a substantially U-shaped key clearance portion, and at least a portion of the base of the said head of the third row when in depressed relation being dis p'sed within said U-shaped portions, and an upwardly extending projection on one of the leversof the first row, said projection being positioned between the said adjacent heads of the 4 7 second row, the upper end of said projection when in depressed relation being in a higher horizontal plane than the lower ends of the said adjacent heads of the second row when in normal relation, and the upper end of said projection when in normal relation being in a lower horizontal plane than the upper ends of the said adjacent heads of the second row when in-depressed relation.

3. A keyboard for typewriting machines having four transverse rows of key heads, the upper or striking surfaces of the heads in each of the rows behind the first row extending at progressive elevations, each of said latter heads having a wall depending into the keyboard a distance at least equal to the distance between the normal striking surfaces of the heads in adjacent transverse rows plus a distance at least equal to the depression stroke of the key, and a key lever on which each head is mounted, the levers mounting the first and second rows of heads having substantially U-shaped key clearance portions, and at least a portion of the bases of the heads of the third and fourth rows when in depressed relation being disposed within said U-shaped portions, and an upwardly extending projection on each of the levers of the first row, said projections being positionedbetween the heads of the second row, and the upper ends of said projections when in depressed relation being in a higher horizontal plane than the lower ends of the heads of the second row when in normal relation.

4. A keyboard for typewriting machines having four transverse rows of key heads, the upper or striking surfaces of the heads in each of the rows behind the first row extending at progressive elevations, each of said latter heads havinga wall depending into the keyboard a distance at least equal to the distance between the normal striking surfaces of the heads in adjacent transverse rows plus a distance at least equal to the depression stroke of the key, and a key lever on which each head is mounted, the levers mounting the first and second rows of heads, having substantially U-shaped key clearance portions, and at least a portion of the bases'of the heads of the thirdand fourth rows when in depressed relation being disposed within said U-shaped portions, and an upwardly extending projection on each of the levers of the firstrow, said projections being positioned between the heads of the second row, the upper ends or said p'ro-Q rows behind the first row extending at progressive elevations, each of said latter heads having a wall depending into the keyboard a distance at least equal to the distance between the normal striking surfaces of the heads in adjacent transi, verse rows plus a distance at least equal to the depression stroke of the key, and a key lever on which each head is mounted, the levers mounting the first and second rows of heads having substantially U-shaped key clearance portions, and at least a' portion of the bases of the heads of the third and fourth rows when in depressed relation being disposed within said U-shaped portions, and an upwardly extending projection on each of the levers of the third row, said projections being positioned between the heads of the fourth row, and the upper ends of said projections when in depressed relation being in a higher horizontal plane than the lower ends of the heads of the fourth row when in normal relation.

6. A keyboard for typewriting machines having four transverse rows of key heads, the upper or striking surfaces of the heads in each of the rows behind the first row extending at progressive elevations, each of said latter heads having a wall depending into the keyboard a distance at least equal to the distance between the normal striking surfaces of the heads in adjacent transverse rows plus a distance at least equal to the depression stroke of the key, and a key lever on which each head is mounted, the levers mounting 6 the first and second rows of heads having substantially U-shaped key clearance portions, and at least a portion of the bases of the heads of the third and fourth rows when in depressed relation being disposed within said U-shaped portions, and an upwardly extending projection on each of the levers of the third row, said projections being positioned between the heads of the fourth row, the upper ends of said projections when in depressed relation being in a higher horizontal plane than the lower ends of the heads of the fourth row when in normal relation, and said projections when in normal relation being in a lower horizontal plane than the upper ends of the heads of the fourth row when in depressed relation.

RAYMOND L. SMITH.

No references cited. 

